https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/october/israel-hamas-war-palestinian-christian-mideast-statements.html
#Palestinian #Evangelicals Call Western #Church to Repentance, Criticized in Return
JAYSON CASPER
..."“Statement-making is not the most critical task of the church,” said Haidostian, whose Armenian evangelical union has not commented officially on the war. “More important is the task of educating about peace, justice, and historical grievances, not only current affairs.”
But Arab #Christians make them, he said, from concern in two directions.
First, he said, they appeal to a relationship of trust with international partners in the West, to counter “the unbalanced and unconditionally favorable” view of Israel often conveyed by the mainstream media.
And second, to show the region that they are not simple bystanders. Haidostian agreed that they may face local pressure from Muslims or Jews, adding that they often feel an existential hopelessness at the dwindling state of the Christian community.
But their statements assert that they, like Palestinians, are not illegitimate children of the land, nor foreign to it.
“Arab Christians are often victims too,” Haidostian said. “To blame them for partiality is simplistic.”
And though he has a strong opinion about this current conflict, the Armenian leader urged Christians not to view the region as a monolith. Believers should be careful not to conflate biblical Israel with the modern state, he said, nor allow government and media rhetoric to shape their faith commitments.
What does Christ desire of us now? he asked. Inasmuch as the Holy Land is the cradle of Christian faith, in John 17 Jesus made clear his desire stretches far beyond."...
